The Wiggles haven been caught up in stoush with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over merchandising.
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said the children’s entertainment group had admitted it likely breached the Australian Consumer Law by selling Emma Bow headbands without mandatory safety warnings required for products containing button batteries.
Ms Lowe said, as a result, the group has committed to raising awareness of the dangers that button batteries could pose.
“The Wiggles’ Emma Bow is a yellow and black headband featuring four lights powered by button batteries,” she said.
“Between June 2022 and March 2024, The Wiggles sold the headband without mandatory safety warnings that it contained button batteries and about the risks that button batteries pose.”
Ms Lowe said the importer and distributor of the headband, CA Australia, had also provided a written commitment to the ACCC to improve its consumer law compliance.
“The Emma Bow was aimed for children’s use and was available at The Wiggles’ live concerts. It was also sold by other suppliers on The Wiggles online store and through various physical retail stores.
“Without a warning on the product, parents may not have known it contained button batteries and not understood the severity of the risk.”
Ms Lowe said ad part of its co-operation with the ACCC’s investigation, The Wiggles had committed to produce an episode of its podcast Wiggle Talk – A Podcast For Parents, which would refer to the recall of the Emma Bow headband, and discuss safety issues relating to button batteries and children’s toys to help raise awareness.
